Judd Trump believes Ronnie O’Sullivan is “in the right frame of mind” for this
week’s BGC Masters and knows he will have to be at his very best to oust the
four-time champion on Thursday.

Trump booked his place in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace after seeing off world No 14 Stuart Bingham 6-3 in the first round yesterday and will now face an in-form O’Sullivan, who progressed on Sunday at the expense of Ding Junhui.

With the crowd fully behind him, O’Sullivan is sure to be a threat this week and Trump has no doubt that the 36 year-old’s temperament — so often questionable at big tournaments – will not undermine his game.

“Ronnie’s been in the practice room, he’s been putting the work in and he’s really in the right frame of mind at the moment,” Trump said. “I watched him the other day and he seems positive. “I’m looking forward to Thursday now and just seeing what Ronnie turns out.”

Trump, the reigning UK snooker champion and last year’s World Championship runner-up, admitted that he had been below his best against Bingham and would have to raise his game significantly against O’Sullivan.

“I felt after the first frame that I’ve got a lead and I thought I could run away with it, but I just kept giving him chances,” the world No 5 said.

“I’ll have to improve probably 50 per cent if I want to beat Ronnie – I cannot give him those chances.”

The 22 year-old from Bristol managed two centuries in the best-of-11 contest but his quick-fire style all too often gave way to errors that Australian Open champion Bingham was quick to capitalise on.

After opening with an 87 break Trump stumbled in the next two frames to allow Basildon potter Bingham into the lead, but a break of 107 put Trump level.

A fine 73 re-established Bingham’s lead at 3-2 but Trump responded with four frames in a row – including a superb 121 – to seal his progression. “The first round can be the hardest round,” Trump added. “You want it out the way, no matter how you do it.”